Mental Health Awareness Month: How We Can Help Black Boys

May is National Mental Health Month. African-American boys are at particular risk for mental health issues as many of them live with untreated trauma and are exposed to harsh treatment and penalties for behavior considered a normal part of development in other cultures.

Mental health expert Rwenshaun Miller explains what we can do to help our boys.

WHY DO YOU THINK MENTAL ILLNESS IS SUCH A STIGMA IN THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITY?
I believe mental illness is such a stigma in the African-American community for multiple reasons including ignorance, fear, and a mistrust of medical systems in this country. Ignorance is based on our lack of knowledge of what mental illness is and how it may present in an individual who is suffering. Common symptoms may be written off as other issues out of fear of being judged, labeled or condemned by others. In addition to that, we have a distrust for medical systems because we as a community were used for experiments throughout history, such as the Tuskegee syphilis experiment.

WHAT ARE SOME WAYS TO ADDRESS THESE ISSUES WITH AFRICAN-AMERICAN BOYS IN PARTICULAR?
With African-American boys, we must attend to their needs on their level. Boys are always taught to “suck it up” or “man up”. Therefore, we silence their emotional expressions and only allow them exhibit anger and happiness as an acceptable feeling. This limitation also limits their ability to process what is really going inside of them so we must first begin with helping them develop a language that includes more than happy, sad, and mad to describe how they feel.

We must also understand them as person and not a perceived diagnosis, while also understanding that traditional therapeutic models that are utilized by other populations may not always be effective. We must add culture to the way we treat mental health with African American boys.Various diagnoses such as depression or anxiety may be expressed differently in African-American males.

WHY DO YOU THINK SOME PEOPLE WON’T SEEK TREATMENT FOR THEMSELVES OR THEIR CHILDREN?
Similar to the foundation of stigma, there are multiple factors that contribute to a lack of seeking treatment. This includes ignorance, fear, ego and a lack of resources. Some people will not seek treatment because admitting that something is wrong and that you may need help is scary for them. We live in a time of the “strong” Black man and woman, admitting that you need help goes against that social ideology.

Some parents fear that their children needing treatment may be a reflection of them as parents and they allow their egos to dictate getting treatment for the child. Often times in our community we result to “pray about it” and everything will be okay. In other instances, people simply do not have the resources to obtain treatment. This could include but not limited to finances, transportation, or knowing where to go to talk to a therapist that looks like them.

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE SIGNS OF MENTAL ILLNESS?
Signs of mental illness can vary depending on the disorder but common signs for children include excessive worry or anxiety, feelings excessively sad, physical pain with obvious causes, frequent nightmares, frequent disobedience, loss of focus, withdrawal from friends and family or thoughts of suicide.

IS DEPRESSION CONSIDERED A MENTAL ILLNESS?
Yes, depression is a very common mental illness that is ranked as the number one cause of disability in the U.S. Symptoms can vary from mild to severe and may include feeling sad, loss of interest in things you normally enjoy, appetite changes, low energy, feeling worthless, or thoughts of death or suicide.

HOW WOULD A PERSON KNOW IF THEIR LOVED ONE HAS MENTAL CHALLENGES OR IF IT’S “JUST A PHASE”?
A mental health challenge can vary in severity, however mental illnesses impacts an individual’s day to day ability to manage the demands and routines of life. Although this impact varies by illness, if a loved one is experiencing challenges it is okay 1) check on them and 2) get them help if needed. One symptom that I do not ignore as “just a phase” is thoughts of suicide.

HOW OFTEN DOES MENTAL HEALTH GO UNDIAGNOSED?
A large number of individuals in the African-American community live with undiagnosed mental health conditions and our community suffers as a result. The lack of diagnoses and seeking treatment result major issues such as increased rates of suicide and substance abuse issues.

HOW OFTEN SHOULD YOU SEE YOUR DOCTOR ONCE DIAGNOSED?
Once diagnosed, the clinician will provide a treatment plan to address your presenting issues. Treatment may vary between once or twice a week to once or twice a month. For more severe cases, some individuals may require inpatient treatment and stay at a facility or hospital. But as general maintenance, why not get check-ups similar to physical check-ups?

WHAT TREATMENT OPTIONS ARE AVAILABLE?
Treatment options available for addressing mental health challenges including therapy and medication. However, these are not the only options. Meditation, journaling, and coloring are also good supplements to therapy. With the advancement of technology, various applications guide you through meditations and even allow you to text with live therapists. Mental wellness also correlates with physical wellness. Therefore, exercise and nutrition are also treatment options.

For individuals experiencing a crisis, the crisis text line provides assistance when you text HOME to 741741 and the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline number is 1-800-273-8255

WHAT TYPE OF DOCTOR DOES A PERSON NEED TO GO TO FIRST TO SEEK HELP?
This can vary depending on the symptoms that a person is exhibiting. Psychiatrists are trained in medical treatment of psychological disorders and are normally advised for medication management.

Psychologists are trained in providing diagnoses with clinical testing for presenting symptoms and are capable of addressing those issues via therapy. Licensed professional counselors and Licensed Clinical Social Workers also have the ability to diagnose and provide therapy treatment.

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO AN ADULT YOU KNOW HAS A MENTAL ILLNESS, BUT WON’T GO TO SEE A DOCTOR?
I would advise them to at least give it a try. If you have been struggling with something for an extended period of time and what you have to tried to feel better has not worked, why not try something to could possibly help.

WHICH MENTAL DISORDERS ARE OFTEN SEEN IN CHILDREN AND TEENS?
Anxiety, Disruptive Behavior Disorders such as Oppositional Defiant Disorder, mood disorders such as depression, Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, and eating disorders are of often seen in children and teens.

ONCE DIAGNOSED, WILL THE SYMPTOMS RETURN IN THE FUTURE?
Symptoms can return in the future but a person must understand that mental wellness is an ongoing process. We are constantly faced with new stressors, and challenges and therefore treatments that once worked may not always be effective. As various things change with your mental health, you must adjust as well. An individual’s diagnoses may also change throughout this process as well.

HOW ARE MENTAL DISORDERS DIAGNOSED IN YOUNG CHILDREN?
Young children should be first seen by a medical doctor to determine rule out physical reasons for the presenting issue. Following this examination, a mental health clinician will use a diagnostic criteria to determine the mental health challenge based on reports of behavior from the parents, caregivers, and teachers. The clinician will also observe and speak with the child depending on their age to assist with the diagnostic process.

Rwenshaun Miller answers your question on the next page.

Is there a the link between weed use and the onset of mental issues in black males?

Often times individuals use weed to self-medicate instead of addressing possible underlying mental health challenges.   Similar to other substances, such as alcohol, we must be aware of the becoming dependent on these things in attempts to “escape” our problems. Unfortunately, this is very common and in many cases socially acceptable until something drastic happens.

How do I overcome the death of my daughter? She was murdered in December and was seven months pregnant. She was my first born and no amount of therapy seems to be helping. They have me on two different anxiety meds and sleeping pills and even that is not helping.

Losing a loved one is always difficult and my condolences to you and your family. Seeking a therapist that specializes in Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) or Complicated Grief Treatment (CGT) can help.  In addition to this, helping understand the various emotions, such as anger towards the murderer, sadness for her loss, and any other feelings)  associated with her death may also help. To begin, start by getting those emotions out on paper by writing them down. This will help you physically see all of the things going on in your head and then with the help of professional they can help sort through those. Also, please do not think you have to just “get over it.” That is a lot to process and there is no definite timeline.

My daughter is a juvenile diabetic – she’s had it from age 8 and she’s now 16. She’s talks about suicide and when I ask her why she thinks about it she said because of the diabetes and when her little brother gets her mad. I’m not sure if this should be taken seriously.. any advice?

I would take all conversations about suicide seriously. As a someone that has been living with a medical issue for most of her life, there may be a desire to be “normal” and not have to deal with the condition anymore. Helping her identify the emotions affiliated with being tired of rigor associated with being diabetic can be helpful, but also highlighting that she can still live a healthy and full life is very important. I would also have her identify specific examples of when she has these thoughts (who, what, when, where) and start to take note when they occur. I would also suggest finding support groups online or locally that include children who live with juvenile diabetes.

What does depression look like in Black men?

Depression in Black men can look different per individual. Some of the common signs include substance abuse issues, anger, a loss of focus, social withdrawal, physical pain, sexual dysfunction, and suicidal thoughts.

My son is 33 wants to but can’t hold a job, smart but dropped out of school, doesn’t like meds and is using street self-medications and now needs rehab….with all the shootings across the nation everyday I’m AFRAID for his life. How do I get him to rehab (Obamacare not working in GA) or to continue seeing his Black therapist?

The first step is allowing him to acknowledge that he needs help. Sometimes forcing someone into treatment drives them further away from it. This can be done by framing some of the behaviors that you noticed that causing an issues. Also pointing out how well he was once doing before self-medicating and going to his therapist on a regular basis.  In some cases, you may not be the one to deliver this message because it may be well received. Using family members and friends that he is close to will help.

Are there natural ways to deal with your mental health issues?

There are natural ways to deal with mental health challenges such as meditation, regular sleep patterns, and mental activities such as journaling and coloring.  Mental wellness also correlates with physical wellness. Therefore, exercise and nutrition are also treatment options. So making sure that you are physically active daily and monitoring the foods you intake are essential.

I live in NC. Do you know how I can find a therapist (Black male or female). I have issues and would like someone to talk too

A:  Therapyforblackgirls.com (it is not just for girls) is a great resource for finding a Black therapist. (EDITOR’S NOTE: Psychologytoday.com has a directory of therapists by city and state, with information on their specialties and whether or not they take insurance.

My Black son is 5 and is in preschool. Is this age too young to put him in non-stimulant medication for ADHD? We are seeing thee pediatrician about it this morning because he is about to get kicked out of a 3rd preschool. He starts kindergarten in the fall. I have tried everything!

It is not too early, but I would make sure that he constantly monitored for any side effects. Also, use medication after other treatment modalities are ruled out, such changes in environment, routines, and supports in his life. Also, does he exhibit these behaviors outside of the classroom setting? If not, that particular environment may have been the issue.

I suffer from bipolar depression as do my mother and my niece. The key to dealing with some mental illness is counseling and medication. Also exercise is a good way to cope. The hardest part is dealing with the stigma. It”s not like cancer where people understand that it’s a disease.

I completely agree. I found that all of those things help me manage.

Good morning, my husband suffers from mental issues but he is undiagnosed and will not get it checked out. He also abuses alcohol. His mother, brother and sister also have mental issues, but are also undiagnosed. I have a 10-year-old daughter and she is displaying signs as well. How do I go about breaking the cycle?

Creating a space for your daughter to address her challenges would be a great start. This may include talking with her about the things that you notice, letting her know that she can talk about anything that she has going on, and opening the opportunity of her talking to a professional.  Creating that option will be beneficial for her to see that she does not have to deal with it on her own and you start to create a healthy habit within her that is not hindered by stigma. And if she has reservations, let her know that you will go with her if she wants and maybe evening trying therapy yourself to set the example.

What is the most efficient way to remind someone that they need to take their meds?

The most efficient way is to show the person how well they are when they take their meds in comparison to when they do not take their medication.  This could be pointing out certain behaviors, people that are in their live at particular moments, or their ability to reach their goals at various points in their life.

Mental health advocate and author Rwenshaun ((rah-shawn)) Miller is a therapist, speaker, and social entrepreneur. He received his bachelor’s degree in sociology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and his masters degree in clinical mental health counseling from Montreat College in North Carolina. 

After successfully managing his personal battle with bipolar disorder, Miller started the non-profit Eustress, Inc. to help black males in particular get the support they need to handle their own mental health challenges. He’s the author of “Injured Reserved: a Black Man’s Playbook to Manage Being Didelined by Mental Illness”.

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